But instead of focusing on the alleged delay, the committee stumbled upon a bigger issue: the recommendation of Climaco to President Arroyo for the cancellation of the contract for the MRT extension.
The presidential adviser herself informed the hearing panel of her decision to recommend the scrapping of the $191-million contract and the conduct of another bidding principally because the contractor is about two years behind schedule.
The contractor is MRT Consortium, the present operator of the MRT line from North Avenue in Quezon City to Pasay City. The existing line would be extended up to Monumento in Caloocan City.
Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice exposed the alleged delay in a recent privilege speech.
Climaco informed the hearing committee chaired by Rep. Jacinto Paras (Lakas, Negros Oriental) that the Department of Justice has ruled that the MRT extension contract can be canceled.
However, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del Norte) said scrapping the contract would mean disregarding the long-established process of decision-making on strategic projects.
"This particular project has been approved by the President, the Cabinet and the investment coordinating committee of the National Economic and Development Authority," he said.
Besides, he said the present MRT operator would be in a better position to build the extension.
Barbers likened the extension project to the airport’s Terminal 3 contract that Climaco also wants scrapped. Many members of the Paras panel are for honoring the Terminal 3 contract.
Sitting across hostile committee members in the hearing room, the controversial presidential adviser refused to be bullied by her tormentors.
At one point in the course of her testimony, Paras cut her short. But she protested loudly. "You have to allow me to finish my statement!" she told him.
Another panel member called her, "that Climaco girl." She again raised a howl. "I have a name," she said.
The usually irreverent Paras could do nothing to restrain her. "Mas mataray ito dun sa isang Gloria," he whispered to his colleagues.